Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 12, 2018

In response to a federal judge saying that the Florida’s voting rights restoration process is unconstitutional, the state’s legal team said Monday the state’s clemency board should fix its flaws — not the courts. State Solicitor General Amit Agarwal argued that U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should not issue any corrective orders, saying “there is […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 7, 2018

As the Senate motored through a long list of budget amendments on Wednesday, a proposal to boost funding to deal with the mounting clemency case backlog was tossed. Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Pinellas County Democrat, withdrew his own amendment, which would have given the Florida Commission on Offender Review $500,000 in ongoing state funds to […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 24, 2018

As Florida voters prepare to decide whether to automatically restore the voting rights of about 1.5 million felons, the state is grappling with how to handle its lengthy backlog of clemency cases. More than 10,000 felons are currently waiting for their applications to be reviewed by the Florida Commission on Offender Review, which has to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2018

The committee hoping to put a constitutional amendment on the 2018 ballot that would automatically restore voting rights to nonviolent Florida felons is inching closer to the signature quota required to place an amendment on the ballot. Floridians for a Fair Democracy says it submitted more than 1.1 million signatures to various supervisors of elections during the […]

Gary FineoutJuly 28, 2017

Florida’s price tag for losing legal battles – which has included courtroom fights over drug testing, voting rights and gay marriage – continues to grow under Gov. Rick Scott. Scott recently agreed to pay $1.1 million to cover the legal bills of physicians and medical organizations in their successful challenge of a law that restricted […]

Associated PressMarch 6, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court is being asked to approve the wording of a proposed amendment that could allow convicted criminals to vote. Backers of the amendment went before the high court on Monday. Justices must decide whether the amendment is misleading. Florida’s constitution bars people convicted of felonies from being able to vote after they […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 27, 2017

A new joint resolution in the House would allow felons the right to vote in Florida three years after their sentence is up. The resolution by Rep. Al Jacquet of West Palm Beach would, if passed on the next general election (or a special election specifically for this) ballot, amend the statutes on voting to […]

Staff ReportsOctober 26, 2016

A panel of state economists and forecasters spent Wednesday editing their notes on the costs of a constitutional amendment on felons’ voting rights. Amy Baker, who heads the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, noted the amendment’s opponents never submitted written material or testimony. The proposed Florida Voting Restoration Amendment would automatically return voting rights to felons who have completed their […]

Michael MolineOctober 17, 2016

A state panel struggled Monday to figure out a price tag for the proposed Florida Voter Restoration Amendment, which would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference heard testimony from a variety of state criminal justice agencies indicating it might be hard to nail down what the […]

Associated PressOctober 16, 2016

New ID requirements. Unfamiliar or distant polling places. Names missing from the voter rolls. Those are just some of the challenges that could disrupt voting across the country through Election Day. While most elections have their share of glitches, experts worry conditions are ripe this year for trouble at the nation’s polling places. This is […]

Tag: voting rights
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State, voting rights group disagree on how to handle clemency process

Senator’s proposal to boost funding for clemency case backlog withdrawn

Senate proposes $500K to tackle backlog of clemency cases

Felon voter restoration initiative close to making 2018 ballot, supporters say

Florida’s cost for losing lawsuits keeps growing

Florida Supreme Court considers voting rights amendment

Joint House resolution would restore felon voting rights after three years

Economists wrap up consideration of felons’ voting rights

Panel finds no easy answers on costs of voter rights restoration

Possible Election Day problems worry civil rights advocates